Review: PlayStation 4 heralds next generation of video games

The next generation of video games has finally arrived with the launch of Sony’s PlayStation 4 on Nov. 15. It is true that Nintendo launched the Wii U last year, but technologically speaking, it was not the leap forward gamers wanted, which can seen been with its sluggish sales. Anticipation has been off the charts for the PlayStation 4 as more then one million units were sold in the first 24 hours, the biggest opening day in video game console history. With such expectation and a seven-year wait, I am happy to report that Sony’s latest gaming machine is everything you have been waiting for.

Stunning. That is first description that came to my mind when I first unboxed the PlayStation 4. Sony has created what is by far the most sophisticated and sleekest console every released. The angled profile of the console is immediately noticeable as most consoles designs have been quite safe in design. A futuristic-looking light bar acts as an indicator for the status of the PlayStation 4. The light is colored blue when powering on, white when powered on, orange while on standby and off when the system is off. It is quite an elegant function. Sony should be commended for how small they were able to make this system has it is significantly smaller then the original launch model of the PlayStation 3 and the Xbox One.

Perhaps most important in design is that of the DualShock 4, the controller of the system. Sony essentially left the controller design unchanged for the last two generations; thankfully it gets a makeover and is the best controller I have ever used. All the same buttons are here but now there is a touch pad on the front along with a built-in speaker. A light bar indicator and a new option and share button for sharing recorded gameplay with the world also arrives. With longer handles, redesigned triggers, improved button response and rumble feedback, I had a hard time finding any fault with this gamepad. Loaded with an 8-Core AMD Jaguar CPU, AMD Radeon GPU and 8GB DDR3 RAM, the PlayStation features the latest in cutting edge technology to power the system for the next seven years.

Setting up the PlayStation 4 for the first the first time is painless and quite quick, as you will breeze through the straightforward setup options. This theme of simplicity is carried out throughout the user interface. Sony clearly designed the PlayStation 4 as a gaming machine first and foremost, unlike what Microsoft has shown with the Xbox One as being more of an all purpose entertainment hub.

You can still access your favorite apps such as Netflix, Hulu and NBA Game Time, but games are clearly the focus. Being able to quickly access your library of games, join up with your friends in party chat and opening up the PSN Store is quicker then ever before. Gone are the days of slow-loading menus and stuttering interfaces, thanks to the power of the PlayStation 4, something that gamers have had to deal with since the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 launch. The PlayStation Vita can also be linked with the system and have cross-play functionality. During my testing of this feature I found little lag in the mirroring of the PlayStation 4 game on the Vita and look forward to taking advantage of this feature in the future.

Reviewing hardware is not as straightforward as software. This is because as great as the hardware can be, it means very little if there is not software to support it. In this case that would be games. Launch titles for a system serve primarily to offer a glimpse of things to come and games such as “Killzone: Shadow Fall,” with its stunning graphics and well-integrated multiplayer format, show that the future is indeed bright for the PlayStation 4.

For those eager to move on from the last generation of consoles, you absoletely cannot go wrong with Sony’s console at its very attractive price point of $399.99 ($100 cheaper then the Xbox One). It never hurts to wait to buy hardware, as the game library will continue grow and the user interface steadily improves. The next generation of consoles has finally arrived and I am happy to go along for this ride.